Rusty by G. A. Watson - HTML preview

Chapter 59

My parents were next on the round of visits; then Laura and her family, and we had a dinner party with Jane and Simon, and Neeta and Rich. Everyone agreed that we were perfectly matched and continually dropped hints; hints that were never acted on. We laughed a lot together; we shared precious moments alone, together, precious because he would be returning to Canada all too soon.

Oliver returned to Vancouver at the beginning of December. I’d taken a day’s leave so I could drive him to the airport and spend the last few minutes with him. It was a wrench saying goodbye at the airport and my eyes glistened with restrained tears. This time, he did kiss me properly before he disappeared into the departure area.

We continued chatting via Skype almost daily. Harold was being allowed home for Christmas, although he would be going back into hospital before the New Year.

At work, I was fortunate that we had the whole of the period between Christmas and New Year off. I requested, and was granted, leave for a few days before Christmas and after New Year's Day, again without pay. I would be visiting Canada for two weeks. Oliver insisted on paying for me to go Business class.

I was now a seasoned traveller and the journey held no fears for me. Travelling in Business class enabled me to relax and not have to worry about conversations with whoever was in the next seat. I enjoyed two films and arrived confident that my welcome would be different this time.

Oliver was waiting for me and greeted me with a big hug and the kisses I had missed for almost three weeks. If people stared at us, I didn’t care. I was happy.

I had spoken to Eleanor, via Skype, two or three times since Oliver had returned. I had wanted to make sure that she had no problems with me sharing a room with Oliver. The last thing I wanted to do was to cause problems either with her or with the boys. She was delighted that earlier misunderstandings had been resolved.

I was tired after the journey and I had a snooze before Eleanor returned from seeing Harold. He would be coming home the following day but he would have to go back into hospital on the 28th December. I was nervous about meeting him as I had been told his speech was still impaired and I didn't want to embarrass him by asking him to repeat things. The Canadian accent was bad enough on its own.

Harold came home mid afternoon. He beamed when he saw me and tried to say something. "He said he is delighted to meet you at last," Eleanor interpreted for my benefit. "It's wonderful to meet you properly," I grinned back. I might not be able to understand everything, or even much of what he said, but I already knew we were going to be friends. Harold said something else and Eleanor explained that he wanted me to speak to him, so he could listen to my voice. I didn't know what he wanted me to say.

"You have a wonderful wife and two great sons," I started. "I am delighted to be invited to spend Christmas with you and your family." As I spoke, his face registered an enthusiastic grin and he nodded his head towards Eleanor. Then he spoke again. It seemed to be a long sentence and I only understood the occasional word.

"Hearing your voice has confirmed to him that he really did hear you even when he was in the coma," Eleanor explained. "Yours was the only voice he heard but it remained with him long after you went back to England. He said he will never tire of listening to you."

It made me feel humble. Oliver put his arm round my waist. "It seems your first visit was the tonic that the whole family needed," he told me. Everyone agreed.

Just before five that evening, Eleanor turned the television on. "I want to watch the news," she told us. "There was a TV crew at the hospital. Maybe they'll include something about Harold." It was the first item on the news that day.

"Harold Nordman who was shot in the head this August was today let out of hospital to spend Christmas with his family," the anchor man said. "Now over to Mike Marczal at the Vancouver General Hospital who saw the happy moment."

"Mrs Nordman, is this the best Christmas present ever?" the reporter asked.

"Sure is," a beaming Eleanor responded. "And I would like to take this opportunity to record my sincerest thanks to all the medical and ancillary staff at the hospital for their skill, professionalism, dedication and support that has made this day possible.

"But there is also one other person I would like to thank publicly. One of the first things Harold said when he came out of the coma was that he had heard a woman's voice insisting that he would get better; that he had to get better for my sake and that of the boys. He didn't recognise the voice and insisted it had an accent. He had never heard any other voices while in the coma but this voice seemed to be repeating the words in his head. He had no idea who the woman was, but I did.

"That same woman had come to me as a complete stranger when I was at my lowest. Without her help I may not be here today. In two short weeks, she became my most trusted and closest friend. She transformed my life, made me hope; made me believe and have the courage to rebuild my life. I am pleased to say that she is with us again for the Christmas period and that Harold will at last be able to meet the person who encouraged him just as she had encouraged me. Rusty Simmonds, we all love you."

Eleanor turned the television off. There were tears in my eyes as they all looked at me. "The world needed to know what you did for us," Eleanor told me. "Unfortunately, only Vancouver will get the chance. Christmas wouldn't have been Christmas without you. And our family would be missing someone special."

Canada was cold and we enjoyed a truly white Christmas. On Christmas morning, before we went downstairs for breakfast and to open our presents, Oliver went down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life as his wife.

I doubt there could be two happier people in the world as I accepted.